HIGH earners are giving Tameside a wide berth, according to a league table of where high income earners choose to live in the North West.

Just 0.85 per cent of the borough's population earn over £60,000 a year, according to research conducted by Barclays Private Clients, a subsidiary of the bank.

This places Tameside 20th out of 22 in the table, above Blackpool and Knowsley.

However percentage-wise in terms of the proportion of high earners under 30, the borough is among the region's top 10.

They live in affluent pockets in Mottram Moor, Broadbottom and the leafier parts of Stalybridge and Hyde, in areas with properties available from £220,000 to £365,000.

Cllr Kieran Quinn, cabinet deputy for economic development, said that while Tameside was not 'entering the race' to attract high earners drawn to the Cheshire stockbroker belt and Manchester city centre, the borough has countryside and town centres that would attract high flyers.

A scheme for 300 flats in Droylsden is also being put together whose prices will be aimed at high earners.

He said: "However we're more concerned about putting in place policies so that more and more Tamesiders on medium and lower incomes will obtain better paid jobs, by improving educational standards and attracting more investment.

"That's why I campaigned against delays to the completion of the M60 link because I knew it would bring new and better paid jobs."

He added that the government has £170m available for economic development zones and Tameside's bid has won higher priority status.

Not surprisingly the Barclays table is topped by Cheshire, favoured haunt of millionaire footballers and celebrities.

There 3.86 per cent of the population are said to pocket over £60,000 annually, defined as 'affluentials' by the bank. But just 2.88 per cent of these are under 30, compared with Tameside's rate of 5.05 per cent.

The figures are drawn from Barclays' database of eight million current account holders. The research helps identify trends in people's spending, investment and savings habits.

John Church, managing director of Barclays Private Clients, said: "The trends in the young affluentials indicate Trafford and Warrington are the next up and coming areas."

Richmond upon Thames in London was the most likely place to find an 'affluential' in England and Wales - 8.6 per cent of the population there earn the big bucks.